How to shave or trim your bum: a men's guide to back, sack and crack

Your bum is the trickiest part of you to groom. You can't see it without a mirror, the angles are awkward, and the crack is no place to rush with a blade. With the right kit and some patience, learning how to shave your bum, or simply trim it, is straightforward.

We compare the four ways to remove bum hair, then go through the crack and the cheeks step by step. For grooming below the belt in general, start with our guide to manscaping for men.

Is a hairy bum normal?

Yes. Bum hair (butt hair, if you're reading American sites) on the cheeks and in the crack is ordinary body hair, and Cleveland Clinic says body hair is healthy. How much you have depends on your genes, your age and your ethnicity. Men tend to be hairier: Cleveland Clinic says the thick, coarse type of body hair covers about 90% of a man's body surface, against about 30% of a woman's. Removing it is up to you.

Trim, shave, wax or cream: which is best for bum hair removal?

For most men, a body trimmer with a guard is the best tool for the bum, and the one to use in the crack, where you can't see what a blade is doing. A razor gets the cheeks smooth, and a salon wax keeps you smooth for longest.

Bum hair removal: trim, shave, wax or cream compared

	How smooth.	Hair is back.	Chance of nicks.	Ingrown hairs.	In the crack?.
Trimming with a guard	Short, not smooth	Whenever you choose to trim again	Low: the guard keeps the blades off the skin	The least likely: the NHS says leaving at least 1mm of stubble can help reduce them	Yes: the best tool for it
Shaving	Smooth	Stubble within hours, or at best a few days	Higher: nicks and cuts are a known side effect	More likely: the NHS says the best way to prevent them is not shaving	No: cheeks only
Waxing	Smooth	After about three to four weeks	No blade, but it stings, and wax that is too hot can burn	Can happen: the NHS lists waxing as a cause	Only at a salon
Hair removal cream	Smooth	Later than after shaving, sooner than after waxing	No blade, but it can cause chemical burns if left on too long or used on the wrong area	The NHS suggests trying a cream instead of shaving if you get ingrown hairs	Only if the pack says it is suitable there

Whatever you choose, go slowly, use a mirror, and keep your razor or trimmer for this job only. Never share them.

Hair removal creams can cause chemical burns if left on too long or put on the wrong part of the body, Cleveland Clinic warns. Only use one whose pack says it's suitable for the area, patch test it first, never use it on broken skin, and keep it away from the anus unless the pack says otherwise. Our guide to pubic hair removal for men covers creams and laser in more depth.

What do you need before you start?

• A body trimmer with clip-on guards, kept for below the belt and never shared. Our guide to choosing a trimmer for manscaping explains what to look for.
• A fresh razor and shaving gel, if you plan to shave the cheeks. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests changing the blade, or throwing away a disposable, after 5 to 7 shaves.
• A hand mirror and good light.

Then get into position. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests standing to trim below the belt, because it helps you see what you're doing. Put one foot up on the edge of the bath or a closed toilet lid to bring the crack into view in the mirror, or squat low over a mirror laid on the floor.

How do you trim your bum crack?

Trim the crack dry, with a body trimmer and a guard on, and leave a little length. The NHS says leaving at least 1mm of stubble can help reduce ingrown hairs.

1. Start with a longer guard. Guard sizes vary between trimmers, so check the lengths in the instructions. You can go shorter next time.
2. Hold one cheek to the side with your free hand to flatten the skin, without pulling it tight.
3. Trim from the top of the crack downwards in short, slow strokes, following the way the hair lies, with the guard flat on the skin. Don't press.
4. Stop short of the anus and leave the hair right around it alone. Keep the razor out of the crack altogether.
5. Swap sides, check in the mirror, then shower off the clippings.

How do you shave your bum cheeks?

To shave your bum cheeks, trim them first. Then, after a warm shower, shave in the direction the hair grows, using shaving gel and short, light strokes. The cheeks are flatter and easier to see than the crack, so this is where a razor makes sense.

1. Wet the skin and hair with warm water and apply shaving gel. DermNet suggests leaving it on for 2 to 3 minutes before you start.
2. Shave in the direction the hair grows, as the NHS and the American Academy of Dermatology both advise. Run a hand over it first to check.
3. Hold the skin smooth with your free hand and use short, light strokes, rinsing the blade after each one. DermNet suggests aiming for one pass over each patch.
4. Rinse with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel.

Nicked yourself? Press on it with a clean, folded cloth until it stops bleeding, rinse it with tap water, and cover it if you can. Let it heal before you shave there again.

Back, sack and crack: how do you groom each zone?

"Back, sack and crack" is the everyday salon name for removing hair from the back, the scrotum and the bum crack. Each zone needs a different approach.

• Back. Use a trimmer with a long handle, or ask someone you trust to help. The NHS lists the back among the places ingrown hairs are more likely if you shave, so trimming is the gentler choice.
• Sack. Trim with the guard on, holding the skin smooth without pulling it tight. For a smooth finish, our guide to how to shave your balls safely takes you through it.
• Crack. Trimmer only, guard on, stopping short of the anus.

What does a men's Brazilian or back, sack and crack wax involve?

A salon wax pulls the hair out from the root, and Cleveland Clinic says a Brazilian wax keeps you hair-free for three or four weeks. A Brazilian removes most or all of the pubic hair, at the front, sides and back, and often around the anus; a back, sack and crack adds the back. Agree what's included when you book.

The American Academy of Dermatology suggests leaving Brazilian waxes to professionals, because the skin in that area is particularly delicate, so keep home wax strips for elsewhere. At the salon:

• Let the hair grow to roughly 6mm to 2cm: two to three weeks without shaving.
• Allow 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how much hair there is.
• It can sting, and the first time is usually the worst.
• Check the hygiene. The therapist should wear gloves and never "double dip" a used stick back into the wax pot.
• Skip it on sunburnt or very sensitive skin, and tell the salon about any acne medicine you've taken in the past six months and any skin creams you use: some rule waxing out.

How should you look after your bum afterwards?

• Keep the area clean and dry. Pat the skin dry rather than rubbing it. Our guide to bum hygiene and how to use a bidet has more on staying clean back there.
• Moisturise if the skin feels dry. The American Academy of Dermatology says a moisturiser can help reduce the dryness that often follows shaving; plain and fragrance-free is the safer bet.
• Give it room. After a wax, Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding hot baths, saunas and tight clothing for 24 to 48 hours. Loose cotton underwear makes sense after shaving too.
• Expect some itch as it grows back. DermNet lists itching as a side effect of shaving. Don't scratch, pick or squeeze ingrown hairs: the NHS says this can damage the skin and lead to infection.

If the skin comes up red, sore or bumpy, our guide to razor burn, bumps and rash after manscaping explains what's going on.

When should you not shave your bum?

Keep razors and wax well away from any of these:

• Cuts, sores or broken skin. Let them heal first.
• Piles, which the NHS describes as lumps inside and around the anus. See a GP if they're getting worse or not getting better.
• Skin tags: soft, skin-coloured growths that often appear around the bottom. They're normally harmless, but the NHS says not to try to remove one yourself unless a GP recommends it.
• Spots from the previous shave or wax. DermNet says folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles: tender red spots, often with a pus-filled head) is quite common on the buttocks and can appear as hair regrows after shaving or waxing. DermNet advises stopping hair removal until about three months after the spots have settled.

Could a lump at the top of the crack be a pilonidal sinus?

It could. A pilonidal sinus is a small hole or tunnel at the top of the bottom, between the buttocks. You may not notice one unless it becomes infected. Then it causes pain and swelling at the top of the crack, and a pus-filled abscess can develop, sometimes suddenly.

The NHS says pilonidal sinuses are more common in men because they tend to be hairier, and that sitting for long periods can also raise the chances.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment, or contact NHS 111, if you have a small lump at the top of your bottom that's painful, bleeding or leaking pus. Don't shave over it: the NHS says not to shave the affected area unless a GP advises you to.

When should you see a pharmacist or GP?

• A pharmacist if redness, itching or bumps don't settle within a few days.
• A GP, or NHS 111, for signs of infection: redness that spreads, swelling, heat, pus, a high temperature or feeling unwell.
• A GP or an NHS GUM clinic (free, confidential clinics for genital health; you don't usually need a GP referral) for sores, blisters, lumps or discharge around the bottom, or bumps that appear when you haven't been grooming. It's routine for them.